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A palynological analysis of borehole RB-1, Raniganj Coalfield, Damodar Basin, has been presented here. Based on the quantitative analysis of the spores and pollen grains of the productive samples, three palynoassemblages have been identified: Palynoassemblage-I demarcated at a depth between 335.00 and 284.00 m is distinguished by the dominance of nonstriate bisaccate pollen Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate bisaccate pollen Faunipollenites suggestive of an early Permian (Artinskian) age; Palynoassemblage-II identified at a depth between 278.00 and 32.00 m shows the prominence of striate bisaccate mainly Faunipollenites, Striatopodocarpites and subdominance of Scheuringipollenites signifies late early Permian (Kungurian) age, and the youngest Palynoassemblage-III marked at a depth between 30.00 and 03.00 m contains dominance of striate disaccates pollen, viz., Striatopodocarpites, Crescentipollenites, and monosaccate pollen Densipollenites spp. (D. invisus, D. densus, D. magnicorpus) corroborate with the latest Permian Raniganj (Lopingian) age. The rare occurrence of Densoisporites contactus and Lundbladispora warti in the assemblage, define the upper limit of the Raniganj Formation. The assemblages have been correlated with the Indian as well as other Gondwanian continents. The dominance of gymnosperms pollen glossopteridales, conifers, and cordaites, lesser quantitative spores of lycopsids, sphenopsids, filiciopsids algal elements indicate that the palaeoclimatic condition was warm and high humid, during the deposition of these sediments in the study area of the Raniganj Coalfield. Research Highlights: Palynological study has been carried out for the subsurface coal deposits from the borehole RB-1, drilled at Raniganj Coalfield to attempt to establish chronology of the sediments. The palynological investigation reveals three palynoassemblage zones and dated as early to latest Permian (Artinskian to Lopingian) age and this assemblage reveals the dominance of gymnosperms plant group such as Glossopteridales followed by conifers and cordaitales. The FADs (First appearance of Datum) of Densoisporites contactus, Lundbladispora warti and Lunatisporites pellucidus in the assemblage III indicate the end of Permian period. The overall palynological composition suggests that a warm to very hot with medium to low humidity climatic condition were prevailing in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palynological investigations are carried out on approximately 538.00-m thick Gondwana strata from borehole SKB-1, Binja Block, South Karanpura Coalfield in Jharkhand. Based on the distribution pattern of age marker palynotaxa, two distinct palynoassemblages are identified. Palynoassemblage-I in the lithologically designated Barren Measures and Barakar formations, between 552.00 and 53.20 m depth show dominance of striate bisaccate ( Striatopodocarpites, Crescentipollenites, and Faunipollenites) and abundance of nonstriate bisaccate ( Scheuringipollenites). Upward the Palynoassemblage-II (39.50-13.80 m depth) is rich in striate bisaccate ( Striatopodocarpites and Crescentipollenites) and significant enveloping monosaccate Densipollenites magnicorpus pollen. These strata have been equated with Raniganj Formation of Latest Permian age. The First Appearance Datum (FAD) of Arcuatipollenites pellucidus, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Alisporites sp., Falcisporites sp. and Krempipollenites indicus observed at 13.80 and 39.50 m depth, mark the transition of Permian into the Lower Triassic. The FADs of Guttulapollenites spp. at 49.10 and 504.70 m, Goubinispora morondavensis at 415.90 m, Alisporites ovalis and Arcuatipollenites sp. at 526.70 m is observed and suggest that these sediments are equivalent to Raniganj Formation, Late Permian in age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palynofloras have been recorded from the Barakar Formation in the Borehole MBKW-3, Barpali-Karmitikra Block, Mand-Raigarh Coalfield, Chhattisgarh. Three distinct palynoassemblages have been identified and referred to the following palynoassemblage zones - Gondisporites raniganjensis (Latest Permian); Faunipollenites varius (latest Early Permian), and Scheuringipollenites barakarensis (late Early Permian). It is inferred that these deposits contain the representative palynoassamblages of Early to Late Permian in age. The First Appearance Datum (FAD)s of Arcuatipollenites pellucidus, A. ovatus, Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Lundbladispora microconata, Alisporites opii, Klausipollenites sp., and Goubinispora indica (at 41.95, 45.90, 98.35 m depth), indicate the closing phase of Permian, as these elements are the key species that mark a transition from Permian to the Lower Triassic. An attempt has been made here to reconstruct the phytogeographical provincialism on the basis of Guttulapollenites recorded in this basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]